Fake Heparin Kills 19, Is Recalled

Often times, when considering the issue of fake pharmaceuticals, consumers like to believe that their own countries' stringent medical regulatory system prevent fakes from getting in their supply chain. Walt Bogdanich of the New York Times, who broke the 2007 story of counterfeit cough syrup being responsible for the deaths of 120 Panamanians, has broken a new story that should make those in the EU and America sit up straighter.

Counterfeit heparin.

Heparin is a blood thinner often used in surgery and dialysis, and this year, the United States Food and Drug Administration linked contaminated versions of the thinner to 19 deaths. After much testing, the truth came out--the heparin wasn't heparin at all, but a counterfeit attempting to mimic the effects of the real thing, with tragic results.

Bogdanich writes:
"What a difference a year makes.

After many near misses and warning signs, the heparin scare has eliminated any doubt that, here and abroad, regulatory agencies overseeing the safety of medicine are overwhelmed in a global economy where supply chains are long and opaque, and often involve many manufacturers.

“In the 1990s governments were all about trying to maximize the volume of international trade,” said Moisés Naím, editor in chief of Foreign Policy magazine and author of “Illicit: How Smugglers, Traffickers and Copycats Are Hijacking the Global Economy.” “I’m all for that, but I believe this decade is going to be about maximizing the quality of that trade, not quantity.”

Mr. Naím said the heparin scare is already having a “huge” impact, fueling worldwide anxiety over imported medicine and a growing demand for consumer protection."

In addition to the Times article, Sue Hughes of Medscape writes that 350 adverse reactions to Baxter (the company which produces the heparin) products have been reported, with at least 40% considered serious.

Read the full New York Times article here

FDA Recalls Heparin

For questions contact Baxter Inc.



Photo Credit

Beware Counterfeit Circuit Breakers: Connecticut Electric Recalls

Connecticut Electric has recalled a total of 64,000 circuit breakers since finding out the product, marked with the "Square D" label, are counterfeit.

These fakes allegedly fail to trip when required. Square D is in the process of removing all such circuit breakers from the market at the moment.

Luckily, no reports of injury have been filed, but the product does pose a threat, so be aware.

For more information, Call Connecticut Electric at (866) 264-3702 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Read the press release here.

One Man's Junk is Another Man's Junk

Photo Credit: ShazzMack

The Frugal Duchess just tipped us off to a great story on bargain bins in ShopSmart Magazine's Aug/Sep issue. Since we all like a good discount,"Dollar Stores" (Or "99 pence" or "One Euro," etc.) are never going away. There are some steals to be found at these treasure troves, but there are also some items to seriously avoid.

Here are the products to buy elsewhere:

1. Toys: Though the inexpensive dolls, trains, and games in discount stores are tempting options, stay away. Counterfeits can unintentionally be purchased by discount suppliers, meaning these toys have not been tested for safety. This is a big safety hazard for children, as it can mean small pieces that can cause choking, or even lead paint.
2. Sound-a-Likes: Seeing a pack of Dinacell batteries can cause explosive laughter. It can also cause an explosive computer mouse. At the last count, there were $23 million in fake batteries produced per year--that's a lot of bad batteries. And, as Flickr users have posted lately, the explosion can be both scary and a nuisance. Shop Smart even found some that leaked acid. Best to buy the real thing at the real price.
3. Electrical Products: We've sung the praises of Underwriters Laboratories before, but let's remind ourselves once again that cheap electrical cords, phones, etc. can burn down your house. Make sure the product has a hologram on the UL logo. That said, try to buy electrical products elsewhere.
4. Vitamins: In their testing, Consumer Reports found that many of the vitamins purchased at Dollar Stores either failed to dissolve properly or actually lied about their ingredients. The magazine suggested purchasing discounted Centrum or Bayer One-a-Day pills, but we recommend visiting your local health store to get them. These shops offer trained staff and personalized vitamin blends.
   

So what can you buy at the dollar store? We haven't seen anything against the cute stationary and wrapping papers, so buy away!



Photo Credits: The Felt Mouse

UL Warns of Counterfeit Surge Protectors

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Originally uploaded by michale

NORTHBROOK, IL--(Marketwire - August 21, 2007) - Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is notifying consumers and retailers that surge protectors bearing the brand name "Fussion" bear a counterfeit UL Mark for the United States. The surge protectors have not been evaluated for safety by UL and are not eligible to bear the UL Mark.

On the packaging:

The surge protectors have six outlets and display a counterfeit UL Mark on the packaging. Model PBR-4506 appears on the package with the brand name "Fussion."

On the Product:

A molded marking on the back of the surge protector identifies the unit as Model MDE-28.

Hazard: The product does not contain a ground wire or surge protection. It has undersized wire and insulation that does not meet UL's Standard for Safety for surge protectors. Using the product could pose a potential electric shock or fire hazard.

What you should do: UL recommends that users stop using these surge protectors immediately and return them to the place of purchase.

Source: Underwriter's Laboratory Inc.